|
Group Commander
 |
Doing the Right Thing
My last two messages to you have explored
issues involving our core values, and this one will follow the same
path.
Thus far in my tenure as Group III
Commander, I've had the good fortune to present eight Mitchell Awards.
Now, I wouldn't say that I have a standard speech that I give every time
I'm afforded this privilege, but I always manage to say similar
things. I usually start by defining what it means to be an officer, and
then I talk about how the cadet who has just received his or her
Mitchell award, in becoming an officer, is accepting a mantle of
responsibility that far exceeds any expectations that cadet has ever
been previously accountable to. And then I follow up with an admonition
to rely on our core values when confronted with a difficult situation,
because our core values give us a way to dimension what "the right
thing" is in relation to being a CAP volunteer.
We all know that this advice doesn't apply
only to cadets who just received their Mitchell – it really
applies to all of us. It applies especially to commanders, because –
trust me on this one – commanders often come across some pretty thorny
problems.
For example, not many of you are aware that
– even as I compose these words – the TX-030 unit (not all of Group III
mind you, just the TX-030 headquarters unit) is suspended from all CAP
activities because of deficiencies in our S3 report (property). Now, as
a Group Commander, I have some very important responsibilities here, not
the least of which is to take whatever action is necessary and in
accordance with regulations in order to resolve the suspense and get
TX-030 back to active status again. Otherwise, as a suspended unit, we
won't be able to execute our missions.
It so happens that no item unaccounted for
has a paperwork trail showing that anyone in TX-030 has ever signed for
it, and that fact alone should obviate the suspension. But that doesn't
really solve the problem, does it? We still have several very expensive
pieces of equipment that need to be accounted for. Even if no one in
Group III ever signed for them, I wouldn't be doing the right thing
if I didn't make every effort to assist Wing in locating these assets.
As a Group Commander, as a CAP officer, and
as a volunteer who has been entrusted with the authority to make use of
taxpayer-funded assets – radios, vehicles, and aircraft – my job will
not done just because a suspension is lifted. My core values compel me
to make an extra effort, and do everything I can to assist my
organization in locating these important pieces of equipment. In fact,
these items were really entrusted to us all, even if I did not
personally sign any form accepting custody of them.
There is an object lesson here.
I hope all of you have understood it, and
are on board with our shared responsibilities.
Lt Col
Owen Younger, Commander |
|
Aerospace Education
 |
Group III Rocketry Day, 5 May
DUNCANVILLE, TX – The Camp Wisdom Boy
Scout facility, in Duncanville, TX, was "home" to the Group III
Rocketry Day, on an overcast and windy day. The activity was made
possible by a $995.00 grant from the Air Force Association, Dallas
Chapter 232, augmented by a fee of $10.00 paid by each cadet to
cover ancillary expenses. In attendance were 20 cadets and 8 senior
members, from six CAP squadrons in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Guided by CAP signs posted on the roads that directed them to Camp
Wisdom, senior members started to arrive at 0800. Other signs inside
Camp Wisdom led them to the assembly point at the pavilion where the
rockets were to be constructed. Sign-in began at 0830, and opening
ceremonies followed soon after, with recitation of the Pledge of
Allegiance and the invocation led by Capt Frank Stalling. Later in the
morning, a moment of silence was offered in memory of Astronaut
Wally Schirra, who died on 3 May, in San Diego, CA.
Walter M. Schirra Jr., was one of the original Mercury Seven
astronauts, and the only astronaut to fly in all three of NASA's
earliest manned space programs – Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. A
former Navy pilot known for his keen sense of humor, he was
gregarious and friendly to a fault. Yet, when the mission was on, he
was completely serious and a consummate leader. He was a staunch
supporter of youth programs all his life.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
[1]-[3] Building the X-15 rocket, a project that turned out
harder than expected. [4] Class picture [5] Building
the Phase III rocket.
After paying their respects to the memory of a great man, the cadets
started with the X-15 Rocket, the program's chosen historic
rocket. The model has a challenging fin system and provided a good
learning experience for the cadets. The relatively high wind and
humidity also provided additional challenges. As it turned out, the
X-15 was actually more difficult to build than the Phase III
Rocket. Because of the prevailing wind, it was decided not to use
the parachute recovery system provided in the kit. Instead, the
cadets used construction safety tape to develop a trailing-ribbon
recovery system. This rocket was completed about 1130, just in time
for lunch, which was brought in from the local Subway shop.
After the meal, the cadets started construction of the Phase III
Rocket. Most of the cadets built the Loadstar Rocket, a two-phase
assembly designed to carry a payload. With improved skills thanks to
their experience building the X-15, the cadets made good time
completing the Loadstar.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
[6]-[8] A successful launch, with perfect alignment and
recovery. [9]-[11] Another successful launch, that floated
almost out of field.
The cadets then launched the 40 rockets they had built during the
day, plus some Phase I rockets they had brought along.
12.
13.
14.
[12]-[14] Success...
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
[15]-[19] After resounding success...
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
[20]-[25] Plus a magnificent dud and its impromptu safety
lesson.
Also, some
cadets did multiple launches. At last count, there were over 70
successful launches. Operationally, as "lessons learned," the
following details stood out:
-
There were 12 misfires, many caused by improper attachment of
igniters.
-
Three rockets melted down on the launch pad because of
misalignment of launch lugs.
-
A few of the Phase I rockets with the parachute recovery systems
floated out of field.
Overall, the day was a great success and a powerful aerospace
learning experience.
Group III is grateful for the generous support of the Air Force
Association, Dallas Chapter 232. In addition, Group III thanks the
Boy Scouts of America for making their fine Camp Wisdom facility
available for the Group III Rocketry Day event.
(Photos: Lt Col Cynthia Whisennand and 1st Lt Robert Smith)
Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt, AEO
|
|
Aerospace Education - Scholarships
 |
2007 AFA Flight Scholarships Announced, 10
May
DALLAS, TX
– The Executive Council of the Air Force Association, Dallas
Chapter 232, is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2007 AFA
Flight Scholarship in the amount of $600 each for attendance to
Civil Air Patrol Flight Academies (as shown) to the following
cadets:
|
CAP National Flight Academy |
| Blahut, Paul |
Strakele, Grayson |
|
Texas Wing Powered Flight Academy |
| Lame, Travis |
Prucha, Derek |
| Maso, Brandon |
Schroder, Edward |
| Nalls, Garrett |
Schulgen, James |
| Patrick, Matthew |
Smith, Andrew |
Congratulations to all the awardees. Upon arrival at the Academy,
the AFA will be notified of each cadet’s attendance and a check will
be sent to the Academy. All awardees are asked to also make
themselves available to attend a future AFA Quarterly meeting (after
they have attended the academy) in appreciation for receiving the
award and to share their experiences. They will be notified of
dates, times and locations at a later date.
A special thanks to the Air Force Association, Dallas Chapter 232,
for their most generous support. Should you meet someone from the
AFA, please thank them personally.
Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt, AEO
Daedalian Foundation Announces Cadet Flight
Scholarships, 12 May
DALLAS, TX
– The Daedalian Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the
Order of Daedalians, is dedicated to providing
encouragement for young men and women to become military
pilots. The Foundation also provides funding for high
school students who are interested in flying and are
members of the Civil Air Patrol.
The Dallas Chapter of
the Daedalian Foundation awards, annually, a $1,500.00
scholarship to local Civil Air Patrol cadets. This year,
the organization chose two winners, splitting the
scholarship into $750.00 for each cadet. Winners were
Cadet Tech Sergeant Edward Schroder of the Lakeshore
Composite Squadron and Cadet Tech Sergeant Garrett Nalls
of the Texoma Composite Squadron.
“We are pleased to make
this announcement, and hope that these young people have
a brilliant and happy future,” said Dick Clothier, the
Daedalian Liaison Officer to CAP. The total cost of the
Texas
Wing Powered
Flight Academy is $1,100.00 per cadet; each
awardee will make up the difference in course expenses.
Both cadets and Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, are
grateful to the Daedalian Foundation for their generous
donation.
The Order of Daedalians’
membership is composed of active duty, reserve or
retired military pilots of heavier-than-air, powered
aircraft. Their Latin motto, “Volabamus volamus” is
aptly chosen (We Flew [and still] Fly) and reflects
their love of flying in all its aspects.
Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt, AEO
|
Cadet Programs
Guest Commentary
 |
Cadets Work the SAREVAL, 18-20 May
D.W. HOOKS AIRPORT,
SPRING, TX – When I joined CAP almost a year ago, I had little interest in the cadet
program. Since it was one of our missions, I knew it must have some
importance, but I still couldn’t help viewing cadets as a bunch of kids
who marched around the parking lot during our squadron meetings.
Over time, my attitude changed. I started to see the transformation that
took place as new cadets progressed in the program. I also noticed their
change during promotion ceremonies as they received rewards, promotions,
and additional responsibility. Watching a group of cadets that spanned
all grades, from Cadet Airman Basic to Cadet Colonel was a bit like
watching time-lapse photography.
Still, I wasn’t ready to view them as anything more than just kids. Not
yet. After all – I reasoned – CAP is a search and rescue operation, so
what good are they going to be when the going gets rough? The last thing
I thought we needed was a bunch of kids getting in our way. But if
cadets can grow in wisdom and experience, so can senior members. And
that's what happened to me.
Over the past two months, I’ve had the privilege of working as a mission
staff assistant trainee during the distributed SAREX in Waco and then
again during the SAREVAL at Houston Mission Base. I was assigned to the
air operations branch, and from that vantage point I had the opportunity
to see how missions are planned and executed. It was also a good spot
from which to learn how the different staff functions interrelate.
The work was chaotic, stressful, difficult, but above all rewarding.
People with varying degrees of experience and ability, all of them
committed to the CAP program, managed to pull it off through sheer will
power, hard work and dedication. They gave of their talent generously,
and they supported each other every step of the way. It was in this
environment that one thing stood out and reached my heart and mind – the
importance of our cadets.
These past two months I observed that our cadets were not a bunch of
kids who got in the way. On the contrary, they were committed young
persons, capable of performing important tasks necessary to our
accomplishing the overall mission. Although they could have been having
fun elsewhere, they chose to work alongside the senior members, often
doing the things that no one else wanted to do. Without complaint, they
assisted the command staff, performed ground team missions, handled
communications, provided security and much, much more.
Despite the long hours, and the stress of having Air Force evaluators
looking over their shoulders – as was the case during the SAREVAL –,
cadets in proper uniform maintained their military bearing and did what
was asked of them promptly, courteously and without complaint. Their
participation was critical to Texas Wing, since without them we might
not have attained a Successful rating in our evaluation. As I made this
awareness my own, I also learned how wrong I had been, because now I
knew that when the going gets rough, it is nice to have some cadets
around.
Savoring the experience I've gained in the last two months has taught me
that CAP is not just a search and rescue organization. It is more than
that. Through our Cadet Programs, we play an important part in shaping
the lives, minds and hearts of young people. Ultimately, by performing
our Cadet Programs mission successfully, we actually help create
tomorrow’s civic, industry and military leaders. And in the end, as we
help shape their training, cadets wind up shaping our lives.
(2d Lt Michael Bownds, Mission Staff Assistant Trainee) |
| Chaplain
 |
Time Well Spent
The month of June is full of summer activities. My schedule for this
month is packed with out-of-state ministry, conventions, summer
encampment, 37th wedding anniversary, plus all of the normal work piled
on top of it. I’m wondering how I'll ever get everything
accomplished. I’m sure this is true of most of our Civil Air Patrol
volunteers. And most of us were very busy before we ever joined CAP,
too.
Sometimes I chuckle when I remember how I was recruited into CAP. They
told me that the squadron needed a chaplain, and, "A couple of hours a
month would be a great help." I was sure that I could find a couple of
extra hours a month, so I dove right in. Of course, in reality, it is
more like a couple of hours a day. Naturally, it is good to be
productive with an abundance of worthwhile activities. However, there
are some dangers best avoided when we start getting too busy.
When the demands on our time become overwhelming, we normally look for
activities that we can cut
– and, unfortunately, we often cut
from the most important area. At least in my case, at one point,
personal devotional time was one of the first areas I cut. I just hit
the ground running and prayed on the go. I'm sure I'm not the only one
to make this choice.
Now, let's reflect on this. Our spiritual strength comes through
fellowship with God. It is in His presence that we overcome, experience
victory, develop our faith, and grow to higher levels of
spiritually. Even the Lord Jesus took time from his busy ministry, and
devoted it to prayer and meditation. Unless we spend time with God, we
have no way of experiencing God’s best in our lives.
As we move into the busy summer season, I encourage you to preserve and
cherish your personal devotional time. In fact, if you do not have a
personal devotional time, I invite you to join with me daily
–
for a seven-minute devotion at seven minutes to seven, as I
start each morning.
Just seven minutes a day, in His presence, can make your day.
Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt |
|
Chief of Staff
 |
Open Group III Staff Positions
Personnel/Admin Officer, and Emergency Services Officer. For
details, please contact the Chief of Staff -
alan.omartin@verizon.net
Maj Alan O'Martin, COS |
|
Finance
 |
|
Group III Patch Available
|
Are you on Group III Staff? Wear the Group III Staff patch
proudly. At $5.00 each, they are a bargain and show your
commitment to Group III and the CAP program. (Click on the image
for a larger view.) |
|
|
Group III Coins Available
 
Our mint
has delivered a batch of new
Group III Commemorative Coins, and you may own as many as you wish,
for $10.00 each. They make wonderful gifts for your loved
ones ... or even yourself. (Click on the images for larger
views of the obverse and reverse.)
To purchase either
Group III Patches or Group III Coins, please contact Maj Alan
O'Martin -
alan.omartin@verizon.net |
Maj Laurie Lancaster, FO |
|
Honor Guard
 |
A Slow but Fun
May
May has been another fun, if uneventful, month for the Group III
Honor Guard. We had our two scheduled meetings; the first one in
Mesquite, where we practiced Rifle Drill for a routine we are
putting together, and the other one in Red Oak, where we practiced
Colors presentation but were forced to seek shelter and practice
rifle drill when a storm blew through.
After the Red Oak meeting the cadets went to Cici’s Pizza and then
to the movies for a fun filled evening.
|
Honor Guard's Upcoming Events |
|
30
June |
Addison
– Honor Guard Meeting, 8:00 am-12:00
noon |
|
3 July |
Addison
– Presentation of Colors at KaBoom Town Celebration |
|
7 July |
Addison
– Honor Guard Meeting, 8:00 am-12:00
noon |
|
21 July |
Addison
– Honor Guard Meeting, 8:00 am-12:00
noon |
Join the Honor Guard
Anyone interested in joining the Group III Honor Guard or who would
like the Honor Guard to perform at a function, please contact
c/Capt McKinney or
1st Lt Opal McKinney.
1st Lt Opal McKinney, HGO |
|
Inspector
General
 |
Changes and Resolutions
Since wing supplements have been
suspended, there are now some "orphaned" areas that
have been a source of confusion. I'll try to clear
the air and answer some of the questions I've been
asked.
-
There's much confusion about
paint and decal markings on vehicles. Therefore,
there won't be any findings assessed on vehicle
markings until there's a clear directive from
Wing and above.
-
As most of you know, the wing
banker program will take effect in Texas Wing
starting in August. Needless to say, at that
time, the Finance Tab D-3 of the current SUI
Guide will be rendered partially obsolete.
-
Aircraft Management is another
item that has changed considerably with the
advent of WMIRS and wing assuming control of
maintenance.
-
Numerous other areas come to mind
but space is too limited to go into each one of
them. Keep in mind that we'll inspect only those
areas that still apply at the unit
level, as we have done in the past.
Paperless Reporting
With the accelerating transition toward paperless
reporting and record-keeping, it is strongly
recommended that
–
when reporting
electronically
–
the unit
maintain some proof of transmittal. E-mailing is
ideal, because those messages bear a date/time
stamp.
If you are transmitting and maintaining records
electronically, make sure they are on the squadron
computer. That's why they were issued to us. It is
imperative that you back up your data on a regular
basis, and keep the backed-up information at a
remote location for safe-keeping.
For those of you who are computer challenged (as I
was, and in many cases still am), please familiarize
yourselves with the basics. Computers are the way of
the future, and they're here to stay.
Thinking Ahead
We also encourage commanders, staff, and members to
start thinking outside the box. With the current
transitions, there are bound to be glitches and
hiccups in the system. Ask yourself, "What can I do
to make this better?" Then, submit any suggestions
up the chain.
Remember
– Your
primary
goal is to be in compliance with current
regulations.
Nearly two-thirds of the group's squadrons have been
inspected. With some luck and cooperation, by 1
November no units will be on waivers from
National. Because of Group III's tremendous amount
of activity over the past couple of months, we
anticipate running two inspection teams during
August and September, so we can get the remainder of
the units inspected.
On behalf of the IG team, I thank you
once again for your cooperation and assistance, and
wish everyone a Successful or better
inspection. And I have a special Thank you
for those who now regularly participate as members
of inspection teams. If you wish to participate on a
team, please let me know.
Capt Steve Manley, IG
Civil Air Patrol Ethics Policy
On 25 August 2005, the National
Commander issued this
policy letter
as a guide for all CAP members. Please make sure that you understand
it, implement it, and remain vigilant concerning any violations.
Inspection Schedules
Unit inspection schedules are
now posted on the Group III
website's Squadron Support / Inspector General page.
Capt Steve Manley, IG
|
|
Professional Development
 |
About the Senior Officer Course - AFIADL 000013
I
encourage each squadron to set up a workshop for the Senior
Officer Course - AFIADL 000013 (formerly called ECI-13). During the
workshop; members will work through all four volumes of the course,
including the questions at the end of each unit. To be eligible for
this training, each participant needs to be registered for the
AFIADL 000013 Course.
I want to encourage the squadrons to
contact me for specific details. Each squadron can set up a course
either at the unit or at a central location convenient to several
squadrons.
Not having
taken this course keeps far too many CAP officers stagnant in their
career progression, when they should be advancing as they really
deserve. Here are the requirements to complete Level II and earn
promotion to Captain:
-
Complete Level 1
-
Attend
a SLS (Squadron Leadership School)
-
Attaom
a Technician Rating in a specialty
track
-
Complete AFIADL 000013 (CAP Senior
Officer Course)
-
18 months in grade as a 1st Lt.
And here's another bit of news. If you
participate as a staff member or director of an SLS, this satisfies one
of the requirements for Levels IV and V.
Member Reports Now Online at
e-Services
CAP now offers a new online Member Reports
feature at e-Services. Members who have access to Member Reports
can use their PCs to view reports directly from the central CAP
repository. This lets you review the most accurate and timely data
available.
Member Reports is a Restricted Application,
assigned to members by their Web Security Administrator (WSA) as
directed by an appropriate commander. Currently, the application is in
its infancy, but it promises to become the must-have for accurate member
reporting. More reports will be added to support CAP missions and
administration most commonly requested by CAP Members. Members will be
able to select the report of their choice, after providing member
organization, member type, and choosing one of three available formats:
PDF, Word, or Excel.
The following personnel Information is
available online at the Member Reports page on e-Services
(left-hand side of main page): General, Achievements, Address,
Characteristics, Contacts, Duty Positions, Photo, and Training. Members
should review their information often to ensure that it is accurate and
up to date. You can edit your own contact information; other information
must be submitted by your unit. If you need help, please ask your unit
PDO.
Senior Member
Training Opportunities
|
Date |
Course |
Place |
Comments |
|
30 Jun - 1 Jul |
SLS |
Austin |
Course
Directors / Staff Members needed. (Doing this satisfies one
of Levels IV & V requirements.) Contact
1st Lt Daren
Jaeger for information. Look for the Ops Plan on this
website. |
|
18-19 Aug |
CLC |
TBD |
Course
Directors / Staff Members needed. (Doing this satisfies one
of Levels IV & V requirements.) Contact
the
Group III PDO
for information |
|
30 Aug-2 Sep |
Pilot Cont Tng |
Odessa |
|
Course
Directors and Staff Members are needed for the 2007 SLS and
CLC
courses. Participation as a Staff member or Director of an SLS or
CLC is a requirement to complete the Level IV and V Leadership part
of the Professional Development Program. You will find this activity
a fun and rewarding experience. Interested persons, please contact
the Group III PDO.
1st Lt Vanessa Smith,
PDO |
|
Public Affairs – Waco CSAREX
 |
Waco Consolidated SAREX,
27-29 April
WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT, TX – About 100
volunteer members of Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, with 11 aircraft and
6 vans, gathered during the weekend of 27-29 April to participate in a
Consolidated Search and Rescue Exercise (CSAREX). This major exercise,
involving Texas-wide subordinate CAP squadrons that assembled and operated as a unit,
was controlled from the Waco Regional Airport in Waco, TX. Coincidentally,
this is also where the Texas Wing Headquarters is located.
The exercise commander
(the official job title is Incident Commander or IC) was Lt Col Donald
“Chuck” Kowalewski. The exercise control element, called Mission Base
(as well as Incident Command Post or ICP), was staffed by qualified CAP
personnel drawn from across Texas. Also present would be two USAF
observers and Mr Ed Brown, Texas State Director (who is also a Colonel
in the Texas Air Guard). Blackland Aircraft Corp. had graciously
provided their hangar on loan for the weekend, which would be used for
temporary billeting, briefing, and mission preparation area.
Participating flight crews and ground
teams were to be tested on their ability to successfully find assigned
targets, either solely from the air, through ground team activity alone,
or by conducting coordinated air-ground searches, all of them operating
as if they were dealing with a real event. Aircrew planning, flight
briefing, sortie execution, use of gridded charts and report production
were to be evaluated throughout, along with ground team and operational
and command staff performance.
In the afternoon of
Friday, 27 April, ICP personnel arrived and set in motion the complex
coordinated effort required to finalize and implement the CSAREX.
Communications, the sole responsibility of Cadet Senior Master Sergeant
Michael Moody, was up and running shortly after nightfall. This highly
reliable portable setup, a mobile box that had traveled from Georgetown,
TX some 85 miles to the south, was powered by batteries that were kept
fully charged by a self-contained generator. Rolling the little trailer
into place, unpacking it, setting up the antennas and radio, and testing
it took only 45 minutes, beating night-fall by just a few minutes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
[1]-[2] On Friday, Cdts Michael Moody and
Joshua Wreyford unload the field kitchen and communications kit from the
Apollo C.S. trailer. [3]-[4] Waco C.S. cadets prepare to
go out on a ground team sortie on Saturday. [5] TXWG Commander
Col Joe R. Smith, trainee CUL Capt Brady, and Cdt Michael Moody in front
of the radio setup [6] Col Smith talks with ground team members.
next to him, Cdt 2d Lt Dale Crump and his father, 1st Lt James Crump.
Upstairs, in the
borrowed office space, a live broadband Ethernet connection – tapped via
a computer switch – promptly provided effective computer reach that
staff members were able to use in order to prepare, share, and refine
the operational and administrative functions of the CSAREX.
By 11 p.m. Friday, some
CAP vans had arrived, bringing ground team personnel. Other CAP members
used their personal vehicles. Of all ages, they came from all over Texas
to this one city, temporarily turning it into Texas Wing’s consolidated
center of field operations. Two aircraft were tied-down on the apron
area by the hangar. The ICP staff members gathered for the final
briefing of the day, sorted out needed details, and then retired for the
evening. The following day would mark the start of air and ground
operations.
On Saturday, 28 April,
after breakfast at 6 a.m., mission staff personnel prepared for the
general briefing at 8 a.m., which was followed immediately by two group
briefings, one addressing ground operations personnel, the other one,
aircrews. The Wing Commander, Col Joe R. Smith, kicked off the general
briefing by welcoming and thanking everyone present, then reminding them
that, “Nothing is worth taking a risk and compromising safety.”
By this time, all
expected personnel and equipment had arrived, including all aircraft and
aircrew members. The purpose of the CSAREX was to accomplish as much
individual training as possible, based on the participants’
qualifications and requests. To this end, individual scenarios were
prepared to test the participants’ ability to do the tasks required, and
help them gain additional skills.
Radio communications
were ready and the communications net was opened, accommodating
ground-to-air on two channels, ground-to-ground on a 3rd
channel, and air-to-ground using a 4th channel. Participants
were cautioned to ignore radio traffic not addressing them individually,
because each team would be assigned unique tasks, unrelated to those of
other teams.
This differs from a
Directed Exercise, where there is a specified scenario common to all and
individual teams are required to work on small portions of the overall
objective(s). In this case, paying attention to radio traffic would not
only be a help but a necessity, since all activities would focus on
common goals.
Vehicles must be
inspected immediately before they can be taken on a mission – either
aircraft or vans. This causes a delay in the start of every mission, and
slows down air sortie and ground team launch times. Most cadets
participated in ground search missions, though in some instances some
might have been part of an aircrew, rarely as pilots but more often in a
scanner/observer role – this time, none were used in this capacity.
El Paso and Amarillo
had been expected to participate in the CSAREX as forward areas,
simulating unspecified remote locations distant from the Incident
Command Post. Due to adverse weather – high winds – El Paso was unable
to operate as the exercise got under way, and would re-evaluate
conditions later on Saturday.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, Mr
Frank Patterson, Emergency Operations Coordinator for the City of Waco,
visited the ICP. The Incident Commander and the Information Officer
received him and briefed him on CAP’s capabilities. The group was later
joined by Mr (Col) Ed Brown, Texas State Director, who is an old
acquaintance of Mr. Patterson’s.
During the conversation
that followed, Mr. Patterson mentioned that, in June, Waco is planning a
tabletop exercise over a hypothetical 2-county-wide area, designed to
test Functional Interoperability. Such an exercise will actually take
place during July in Central Texas. The concept of operations is to test
the ability of all member agencies to share information – seamlessly and
efficiently – after an extensive upgrade of radio equipment that
incorporates programmable frequency technology. “We had to do this on a
budget,” he said. “If we’d had all the money in the world, it would have
been in place and working already.”
The IC had set a goal
of launching all flights by 11 a.m. – that is, three hours after the
start of the general briefing – an objective that in fact required quick
and efficient handling of all administrative, hands-on and clearance
requirements. This is a stringent goal that is seldom realized, often by
several hours. In this case, the goal was achieved by 11:15 – just 15
minutes late. “Not bad,” was the general feeling. In fact, morale was
high at all levels. The aircrews were happy, and the support personnel
knew that “the impossible” wasn’t that hard to accomplish after all.
By 2 p.m. Saturday,
three ground teams had returned from their missions, and aircrews had
flown 24 sorties, all of them successfully completing their assignments.
This was an impressive score, especially on the part of the aircrews,
and the participants knew it. The result was a quiet but effective boost
to morale that promoted some gentle joking and friendly banter.
At the close of daily
operations by nightfall on Saturday, 28 April, the Texas Wing, Civil Air
Patrol Consolidated Search and Rescue Exercise (CSAREX) participants had
successfully completed 6 ground search missions and 35 aerial sorties.
These had been launched and returned to base, each on a simulated
emergency mission designed to perfect the skills of individual members.
These skills – and experience – are destined to be put to the test
without notice, whenever a natural or man-made disaster strikes.
During the staff
mission briefing at 7 p.m. that evening, the Texas Wing Commander, Col
Joe R. Smith, thanked everyone for doing a good job. Then he added, “In
my 20 years in the Civil Air Patrol, this is the first exercise in which
there have been no complaints about communications.” The Communications
Officer for the exercise, Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Michael Moody,
age 15, smiled in rosy-cheeked bashful pride, as he held the portable
radio he had brought along so that one of the two Mission Radio
Operators he had left in charge – some 120 feet away – could reach him
in case of an emergency.
Within seconds of
hearing the Wing Commander’s praise, a call came through on Cadet
Moody’s set, “Ops, this is Mission Base. Received Mayday and ELT signal
acquired.” The radio operators were both 13 years old, but they had
their proper radio procedure down pat. The tone of the voice was not
that of an adult’s, but the urgency in the words and the message format
were very real.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
[7] Col Joe R. Smith, Wing commander, talks with
1st Lt Cheri Fischler, Apollo C.S. commander, who provided meals from
her portable kitchen. [8] At the commo post, standing at left,
Mr. (Col) Ed Brown, Texas State Director, Capt Brady, Cadet Michael
Moody, Incident Commander Lt Col Donald "Chuck" Kowalewski, and Mr.
Frank
Patterson, Emergency Operations Coordinator for the City of Waco
[9] Exercise participants enjoy a meal "al fresco" as catered by
1st Lt Cheri Fischler. [10] Cdt Andrew Papson (Black Sheep C.S.),
one of the Mission Radio Operators, tells 1st Lt Jim Wreyford (Apollo
C.S.) about the "Mayday" transmission. [11] Cdt Michael Moody
establishes known details about the "Mayday" and subsequent presumed
crash (later turned out that the pilot walked away from the wreckage).
Whenever an Emergency
Locator Transmitter (ELT) goes off, the Civil Air Patrol and the US Air
Force take it seriously; especially when preceded by a “Mayday,” the
international convention for, “Help me, I’m in trouble.”. Sprinting as
never before in his life, Cadet Moody literally flew out of the briefing
room and raced down the stairs and out the building, on his way to the
exercise’s radio post. Other staff members, less young than he, followed
at a slower pace and were soon by the communications desk, listening
attentively to the radio traffic.
At the Incident Command
Post, after establishing that the event was real, the wheels were set in
motion for the Civil Air Patrol to be activated. Within minutes, the Air
Force Rescue Control Center (AFRCC) had issued a mission number, and the
exercise got a “Red Cap” – as an AFRCC mission number is known. A CAP
aircrew had been flying in the vicinity of the Waco Regional Airport,
and had identified an intermittent ELT signal.
At this point, since
the Incident Commander and his deputy – Lt Col Brooks Cima – had both
worked a full duty day, but Lt Col Dietrich Whisennand – a qualified and
experienced IC – had not, command was transferred to the latter for the
rest of the evening. A similar arrangement was made for the
communications team.
After selecting
available Ground Team Leaders and Ground Team Members among those
present, two ground teams were assembled. It was at that point that news
came in. The downed aircraft had been located, the pilot had walked away
from the wreckage – slightly wounded – and there had been no fatalities.
There were, however, two other ELT signals still active in the area. One
was near Austin, about 90 miles to the south, and another one about 10
miles west of the Waco airport. “We have a Red Cap,” said the ground
team members, and off they went, seeking to deactivate the Waco signal.
The Austin ELT was to be handled by Pegasus Composite Squadron, at Camp
Mabry; that commander had already been alerted.
12.
13.
14.
15.
[12]-[13] Both on Saturday and Sunday, the
flight-line was always in flux, as sorties flew off and returned.
[14]-[15] Maj Dan Williams (Commander) and 2d Lt Richard Hacker,
both of Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron, inspect their aircraft prior
to flying a sortie. Maj Williams is wearing sun-glasses.
A limitation of CAP’s
Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft is that if the cross-wind component of the
prevailing winds is greater than 15 knots, they cannot operate – as this
would be unsafe. Although Central Texas had been expected to have less
than perfect weather for the weekend, the incursion of a high-pressure
area covering Texas from the Panhandle to the Beaumont area had kept
stormy conditions localized to the southwest and northeast. This weather
haven, however, started to move eastwards late Saturday, so two CAP
planes were sent off on a one-way mission to their West Texas home
stations. This, too, mirrors the real-life situations encountered during
hurricane season.
In a fluid weather
environment, Search and Rescue (SAR) assets are located at a Staging
Area (SA) as close to the trouble spot(s) as possible, consistent with
safety. As the weather changes, so changes the SA’s location. In this
case, since the exercise was scheduled to end on Sunday, 29 April, it
was easier to send each affected plane and aircrew back on a one-way
mission.
The “Find” on Saturday
evening had put the ground team members in a good mood. The aircrew that
first detected the signal, too, will get recognition for the job. They
will all be entitled to wear the Civil Air Patrol’s “Find” ribbon.
On Sunday, 29 April,
operations resumed at a steady pace. El Paso was still unable to launch,
so they committed to ground team work. Amarillo had been tasked and was
already part of the exercise. At Mission Base, buoyed by the evening’s
“find,” and happy about their own good performance, personnel at all
levels worked in concert, helping operations progress smoothly and well.
Another ground team was tasked with a mission, completing all tasks as
required. Aircrews kept going on sorties. Several times during the
exercise, Cadet Moody operated the mission base radio while all aircraft
and multiple ground teams had been launched, keeping close tabs on the
progress of all missions.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
[16]-[17] The Incident Commander, Lt Col Donald "Churck"
Kowaleski, briefs the pilots before they fly their missions. [18]
Back from the mission, paperwork seems endless. [19] The of the
day for this aircrew. [20] A rare quiet moment at the Incident
Command Post. In the background, at the blackboard, Lt Col Cynthia
Whisennand directs her son, Cadet Matthew Whisennand, both of Irving
C.S.In the foreground, 1st Lt Brendan Goss stands by Maj Randy Russell,
as they finish entering an update to the status of operations.
Mission Base Staff
training took place as well. Several CAP officers, designated as Mission
Staff Trainees, had assisted various staff officers in the conduct of
normal functions. As they performed individual tasks, they were checked
off if successful, nearing certification for the job. One of the
successful trainers was Cadet Moody, who qualified two Mission Radio
Operators (one cadet and one adult), as well as finished checking off an
officer assigned to Texas Wing who was working towards her
Communications Unit Leader (CUL) rating (she passed).
When asked for
comments, the latter said, “At first I was a bit surprised that I would
be instructed by a cadet. But that was before he started answering my
questions. He was awesome. He probably taught me more about
communications than I've learned so far. He’s the first one to explain things to me in a coherent way,
rather than telling me to accept it just because that’s the way it’s
always been done. He gave me concrete reasons and good examples. He was
a great instructor. He took the time to explain how it is done,
demonstrated it to me, made me practice it, tested me, and made sure I
knew it before he would sign me off. Nice, too.” She is now an accredited CUL.
At the end of the
exercise on Sunday, 29 April, 71 air sorties had been flown and 9 ground
team missions completed, all with "Successful" results. Of these, 1 air
sortie and 2 ground team missions had been “real world” work, performed
under the umbrella of a USAF mission number.
This had been a real-time exercise. Since
CAP, the civilian all-volunteer arm of the U.S. Air Force, is in a state
of constant readiness, these periodic exercises and evaluations are
critical in assuring optimum response time in the event of natural or
man-made disasters. Hundreds of volunteer man-hours were invested in the
planning, organizing and execution of this exercise.
CAP’s stated purpose is to respond
quickly and proactively whenever disaster strikes. In Texas, during
hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CAP flew numerous damage assessment
sorties, aided in evacuee processing, sent ground teams to assess
on-site damage, provided transportation for emergency services personnel
and helped minimize the effect and repercussions of these events. More
recently, during the Texas wildfire season that spanned November 2005 to
April 2006 and burned an area roughly the size of the State of New
Jersey, CAP’s firewatch missions were credited with having prevented a
disaster of catastrophic proportions.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Information
Officer |
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Public Affairs – SAREVAL 2007
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SAREVAL 2007, 18-20 May
D.W. HOOKS AIRPORT,
SPRING, TX – Every two years, the
U.S. Air Force evaluates each Civil Air Patrol wing in order to
establish how capably they can perform their missions. Texas Wing’s turn
came on the weekend of 18-20 May, 2007.
Texans know much about
the weather and its perils. They also know that it hasn’t been until
recent years that weather prediction has become more accurate, to the
point that preparing for it and taking preventive action is possible
without unnecessary disruption of the normal routine. For this
evaluation, the Air Force created a scenario based on a hypothetical
storm, “Hurricane Buster,” hitting the Galveston/Houston area and moving
inland with ferocious winds.
Ran as a Distributed
Search and Rescue Exercise, 25 locations in Texas – representing all 5
groups – provided air and ground team assets ready to carry out their
assigned missions. Over a month before the evaluation was to take place,
the Incident Commander, Maj Pat Benoit, gathered experienced and capable
CAP members to staff the Incident Command Post, to be located at the D.W.
Hooks Airport, in Spring, TX, a suburb of Houston. To be known as
“Houston Mission Base,” it would direct all other units, each remaining
in its own staging area, dispersed from Sulphur Springs to Brownsville,
and from Amarillo to Baytown, covering all of Texas.
Over the last two
years, Texas Wing has had to deal with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and
that experience was still fresh in everyone’s mind. Texas Wing had
contributed to the damage assessment and relief operations in the
aftermath of Katrina, but Texas had been left largely untouched. Rita,
on the other hand, had hit Texas directly, albeit in a small area, but
the threat had been dealt with quickly and effectively.
Whereas Rita had
followed an uncertain path, to the point that initially the predicted
landfall covered the entire coastline extending from Brownsville to
Mobile, AL, it had twisted its path clockwise and landed at New Orleans
once again, with a path of destruction reaching westward to Beaumont but
missing Galveston and Houston entirely.
The historical record
isn’t much help in predicting where a hurricane will go, since each
storm is its own entity and resolves its path as it is influenced by the
weather systems present in the area. In 1961, Houston had suffered a
crippling blow when, late in the season, Carla had hit it with 150 mph
winds – one of the worst storms in decades, resulting in damage costing
some $2 billion in 1990 dollars. Would this exercise involve a repeat
performance?
The Texas Wing Planning
staff was certain that it would get a workout during this evaluation
exercise, so everyone prepared for it. Sure enough, it started with the
delayed release of a message dated April 20, warning of a simulated
hurricane that was expected to hit Florida, followed by another message
dated 4 May, pinpointing “Tropical Storm Buster” in the proximity of
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. From this point on, the simulated threat
accelerated, “Buster” grew to a category 3 hurricane, and eventually
barreled across the Gulf of Mexico towards Galveston and Houston.
Although the exercise
was scheduled to start on May 18, the planning staff was faced with a
number of situations they had to resolve on paper before anyone actually
set foot at Houston Mission Base. This is called the “table-top” phase
of the exercise. Although all actions are just announced, rather than
carried out, each is evaluated on the basis of its expected result
against the announced danger.
On May 18, Houston
Mission Base was partially (but functionally) manned by 10 a.m., and
fully manned by 6 p.m. that evening. This is when play started in
earnest, and the Staging Area Managers began to receive their taskings.
Some missions were assigned that Friday, and carried out as preliminary
moves. Some aircraft were moved out of the hurricane’s expected path,
and given missions that required them to land elsewhere and spend the
night there. Friday was a long day, and although operations had been
scaled down earlier, planning kept working until 10 p.m., preparing for
the big day.
1.
2.
3.
4.
[1] Cadets set up
their tents, by the Delta Composite Squadron's building at D.W. Hooks
Airport. [2] During a break, the Incident Commander, Maj Pat
Benoit, gets an update from the Security Chief, Capt Steve Manley.
[3] Cadet get organized for their security detail. [4] C/1st
Lt Patrick Buchman helps with admin work and electronic faxing.
(Photos: Capt Arthur Woodgate)
By Saturday, May 19,
full-fledged operations were set in motion across Texas. Some aircrews
were asked to run damage assessment flights and confirm the condition of
selected structures or roads considered essential to maintaining normal
conditions, others were sent on sorties ferrying simulated medical
supplies, rescue missions were launched, or air-to-ground coordinated
searches were sent went out, asked to look for simulated dangers or
threats.
Houston Mission Base
operated out of the two-story building that Delta Composite Squadron,
Group IV, Texas Wing has on the D.W. Hooks Airport, Spring, TX. This is
a superior facility, well suited for the work. Run as a real mission,
local cadets and junior officers implemented building and ground
security to perfection. They looked so hard that they even found threats
that had not be planted by the Air Force planners (they all turned out
to be harmless), but it demonstrated a high level of awareness on their
part. The cadets ranged in age from 12 to their late teens.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
[5] 1st Lt Jim Douglas, C/CMSgt Jamie Douglas, C/A1C Andre Leger,
2d Lt Darrell Roquemore, and C/SSgt Corbin Brown man the mess area "al
fresco" by the SAREVAL building. [6] 2d Lt Aaron O'Connor by the
Delta C.S. sign, supervises outside security. [7] Capt Steve
Manley readies C/TSgt Robert Lewis for security duty. [8]-[9] The
operations room was the heart of the exercise, where the staff kept
track of all exercise activities in Texas Wing. (Photos: Capt Denise
Thompson)
An air of purpose and
determination permeated activities throughout the building. The
Operations Room, crammed with some 20 to 30 personnel (the numbers kept
changing as they walked in-and-out, on necessary errands), had the low
noise level typical of a friendly social club – voices were never
raised, tempers didn’t flare, the “board fillers” – a high proportion of
them cadets – executed a quiet and harmonious dance as they moved back
and forth between three walls that held many whiteboards. These were
gradually filled with mission details, which got recorded on the
electronic database, and the whiteboard data spaces got erased and made
ready for the next mission that would be assigned to that element.
Reaching the Operations
Room required getting past security. Very polite but firm cadets asked
for individual identification before anyone was allowed up the stairs.
The cadets were also bright. They soon learned who was allowed and who
wasn’t, so they stopped asking for identification from those they had
already cleared. When they detected any possible danger or anomaly, they
called on their portable two-way radios and asked the Security Officer,
a seasoned investigator, for his assistance.
Access to the building
was controlled as well, and internal access was compartmentalized. This
kept interference to a minimum, and the work got done efficiently and on
time. Aircrews were flying within the hour of being tasked, ground teams
were on the road equally promptly, having filled out all the required
paperwork, received their mission and safety briefings, inspected their
aircraft or ground vehicle, and been cleared to depart. The results
began pouring in, and they were all positive.
The Communications
Section kept track of every local aircraft aloft, or ground team in the
field, maintaining periodic progress and status checks. Field results,
sent in by the Staging Areas, were also maintained and recorded.
Administration,
Finance, and other support areas are less glamorous positions, but
they’re still vital to the conduct of a mission. Many cadets helped in
these areas, and their contribution was essential to freeing experienced
senior members to carry out more pressing tasks. Ultimately, the focus
was on the mission and satisfying the needed tasking. Getting it all
done is a complicated, interlocked, and demanding process. Getting it
done well and on time takes dedication, training, and leadership.
Texas Wing was working
like a fine, well-oiled machine, its parts humming as everyone put
“heart” behind the push to completion. The sham “Hurricane Buster” hit
Galveston and moved on to Houston, but luckily the simulated damage was
light. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and kept at the business of
managing assets, assigning aircrews and ground crews to tasks, providing
answers to the questions posed by Air Force simulators, and in general
taking care of the “to do” pile that couldn’t wait.
Then, later in the day,
as hurricanes are apt to do, it decided to behave like a tornado.
“Hurricane Buster” turned clockwise and, rather than moving east as
expected, it kept turning until it made a simulated second pass over
Houston. This time, though, it put the electrical plants out of
commission, downed high-tension wires bringing in electricity from
elsewhere, destroyed all cell phone towers, and downed the telephone
lines as well. To make it more interesting, even Internet access was
gone. What to do?
The Civil Air Patrol
has organic communications equipment that runs on portable generators.
Aircraft, too, have radio communications built in, as do CAP vans and
selected vehicles assigned to staff members. This “home” network can
reach very far into the world thanks to CAP’s airborne repeater stations
that fly at 10,000 ft and higher. Texas Wing has two of these, and they
have proved their worth before. This weekend, they worked well again.
Morale was high. As
obstacles rose, they were knocked down. Problems were thrown in, only to
be whittled down to size, parceled out, and vanquished. The Staging
Areas steadily sent in their reports, keeping the flow of information
running smoothly and accurately. A larger exercise, run by CAP’s
Southwest Region, a command echelon that comprises Arizona, Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas Wings, asked for various
tasks to be carried out by Texas Wing. These were treated as requests
from a client agency. The Air Force was satisfied that Texas Wing did
not lose focus, and Southwest Region got its answers as unallocated
assets became available to satisfy those requests.
Later that Saturday,
the Inbox was considerably depleted, the number of reports kept pouring
in, all tasking had been largely assigned to resources that would be
freed to do the job on the following day, and all personnel and
equipment were back from their missions. It was beginning to look like a
very good day, which became even better when the Air Force decided that
they had enough information to come up with their numbers. The
evaluation’s operational phase was over.
10.
11.
[10] Maj Jeffrey Pearson, a member of the GA-8 aircrew, speaks on
his cell phone as Col Joe Smith, Texas Wing Commander, and Lt Col Max
Hays, Chief of Staff, look on. [11] At the "end of exercise"
briefing, Maj Pat Benoit announces that the Air Force has enough
information to grade the exercise. At far left is the Air Force
evaluator, Maj Vic Del Moral. (Photos: Capt Denise Thompson)
At last count, 97
missions had been executed: 67 sorties using 22 CAP aircraft, and 30
ground missions using 13 CAP vans. A total of 237 personnel, including
senior members and cadets, had participated in the SAREVAL.
“There’s still money in
the kitty,” said Maj Pat Benoit, the Incident Commander, “Let’s go home
now, and tomorrow we’ll finish what we started. Everyone should get as
much training as we can give them.”
Sunday’s tempo returned
to the usual friendly training routine. A routine that was now colored
by the knowledge that the evaluation exercise had come pretty close to
mimicking the activity one could expect when dealing with a real event.
Energized by the previous two days, the aircrews and ground teams kept
working with the same determination and purpose they has shown earlier
in the weekend.
It was “missions as
usual” and as expected, since the Civil Air Patrol is in a state of
constant readiness, and that includes expecting the unexpected.
Sunday morning, the Air
Force evaluators announced that Texas Wing had earned a preliminary
rating of Successful, which means “mission capable,” with four examples
of an Excellent rating. Mentioned were 1st Lt Brendan Goss,
Planning Section Chief; Lt Col Steve Haney, Logistics Section Chief; Maj
Dennis Cima, Ground Branch Director, and Lt Col Terry Alexander,
Communications Unit Leader.
12.
13.
[12] Maj Risher
Lewis, Group IV Logistics Officer, Air Force Maj Vick Del Moral, C/TSgt
Robert Lewis (Maj Lewis' son), and Texas Wing Commander Col Joe Smith
pose as Cdt Lewis proudly holds his SWLR Commander's Coin. [13]
Maj Vick Del Moral personally congratulates Cdt Lewis on his
performance, as Col Joe Smith looks on, with obvious pleasure.
(Photos: Capt Arthur Woodgate)
Also, three individuals
were recognized for outstanding work, and given a Southwest Liaison Region
Commader's Coin, a distinction seldom given to so many during a single
evaluation. They were Lt Col Owen Younger, Liaision Officer; Maj Randy
Russell, Planning Unit Leader; and C/TSgt Robert Lewis, Security.
When asked how he felt
about earning his coin, Cdt Lewis replied, “I’m honored to have it, but
I didn’t do anything special, really.” The son of Capt Risher Lewis,
Group IV Logistics Officer, Cdt Lewis is 15 years old, committed to the
Civil Air Patrol program, and a team player.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Information
Officer, SAREVAL 2007
Houston Mission
Base Staff Commentary, SAREVAL 2007, 18-20 May
Click on this link for the article, found in the "Cadet
Programs Guest Commentary" section (above).
Austin Staging Area (Apollo Composite Squadron, Group III),
SAREVAL 2007, 18-20 May
Click on this link for the article, found in the "Squadron and
Group News" section (below).
Denton Staging Area (Group II),
SAREVAL 2007, 18-20 May
DENTON, TX – On the weekend of May 18-20, the Nighthawk Composite
Squadron, Group II, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol operated the Denton
Staging Area from its Emergency Services Support Unit, as part of a
recent state-wide evaluation. The exercise was designed to test Texas
Wing and the Squadron’s capability to support state and federal agencies
during a disaster of Hurricane Katrina proportions.
During the weekend, the Nighthawk and Ft. Worth Phoenix Composite
Squadrons were two of many Civil Air Patrol squadrons across Texas to
practice avoiding a monster hurricane that might make landfall in the
Houston area and travel up the State, assessing the resultant damage,
rendering aid to the population, and helping in the recovery process.
This exercise was designed to prepare CAP’s Texas Wing in the event that
such a disaster might become a reality, at the same time that it tested
the wing’s ability to carry out its missions during such an emergency.
Civil Air Patrol units from across Texas State participated in this
exercise, with nearly all Texas Wing aircraft and selected ground teams
operating from 24 dispersed Staging Areas, in effect covering all of
Texas. The weekend-long exercise was conducted following a scenario
written by the US Air Force, and rated by Air Force evaluators. It was
up to the Civil Air Patrol’s Incident Commander and his staff to resolve
the situations put into play by the Air Force, many of which required
tasking of the Staging Areas. This is a bi-annual event for all Civil
Air Patrol wings, designed to test each wing’s operational readiness.
1.
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3.
4.
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6.
[1] The squadron's Emergency Services Support Unit. [2]
Cadets work the radios during the exercise. [3] Cadets relax
after a day in the field. [4] Capt Greg Bowman of Ft Worth
Phoenix CS and Capt Tommy Hudson of Nighthawk CS dish out dinner. [5]
Capt Greg Bowman of Ft Worth Phoenix SC and SM Tim Stephens of
Nighthawk CS enjoy their meal. [6] Capt Tommy Hudson at the radio
console.
The Nighthawk Composite Squadron’s ES Support Unit is a special-purpose
vehicle sponsored by individual unit member’s contributions. This
“rolling field office” constitutes a stand-alone mobile facility capable
of supporting airborne and ground search and rescue activities. The
vehicle is equipped with a complete communications suite that covers the
high frequency (HF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands. Erectable
antennas extend the communications range when operating from a fixed
site. Inside the mobile unit, CAP C/A1C Patrick Slaughter, C/Amn Taylor
McNeill and C/Amn Joshua Lewis operated the radios, maintaining contact
with aircraft and ground teams that were deployed throughout northern
Texas. Communications were also maintained with the exercise’s Houston
Mission Base, located at D.W. Hooks Airport, in Spring, TX. While the
units were deployed, C/A1C Slaughter kept tr | |